In a review of a previous American McGee's Grimm episode, I wrapped up my analysis by stating that each of the games has been fun, but those who don't feel like shelling out bucks for each entry's admittedly cheap fare should wait for their favorite fairy tales to come around. I'd like to amend that statement. True, Grimm episodes have focused on and will continue to feature popular fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood, but for many, the appeal of little-known tales (whether personally or universally) could be the saving grace of this platformer whose mechanics don't change much between episodes.

Take this week's installment: Godfather Death, a chilling tale with which I was unfamiliar despite being a fan of the Brothers Grimm. Grisly though they usually are, the brothers' tales are not quite macabre enough for Grimm, the titular protagonist of Spicy Horse's episodic series. In episode six, Grimm not only darkens the tale of Godfather Death, but manages to traverse many of the series' most clever and beautiful playgrounds yet.

Godfather Death is the story of an amorous married couple who have just birthed their thirteenth child. Finally realizing that maybe they have one too many little ones, the husband embarks on a quest to find a suitable godfather for his son. He encounters God, but decides He won't do at all: too good and holy. Satan is next on the list, but ol' Lucifer rests at the opposite end of the spectrum, so the father passes on him as well. The father finally encounters Death, who is unbiased against all mortals: everyone dies, and so he holds no allegiances. Fair enough, daddy thinks, and so hires Death as the boy's caretaker.


The boy works as a physician for Death. Though unschooled in the medicinal arts, the boy's task is simple: if Death chooses life for the patient, the boy bequeaths a healing herb upon the almost-victim. When the boy goes against Death's orders and saves a king and his daughter, Death takes his godson to his domain, where the boy stands in awe of row upon row of candles. Some are long, which represent a long life; others short. Because of his disobedience, the boy's squad candle is extinguished, and he drops dead.

Harsh, but not harsh enough for Grimm's sadistic tastes. Why is God so content to be overlooked for the position of godfather? Grimm asks. Surely the Most Holy would object to not being considered good enough. And Death! Though strict, Grimm feels more psychological punishment is in order before the boy's candle is quickly snuffed out.

After five straight weeks of Grimm episodes, you shouldn't be surprised to hear that Grimm carries out those and other misdeeds by darkening his surrounding environments -- meaning, of course, that the gameplay in episode six is nearly identical to the previous five episodes. Personally, however, I found Godfather Death's seven levels to be among the most unique featured in the series yet. God's domain, a place of green pastures and frolicking do-gooders, becomes ravaged by lightning bolts hurled by the big man after Grimm's diseased presence invokes His fury at not being chosen by the father. Animals, humans, and the land alike are struck by God's sizzling vengeance as the sky becomes dark and wrathful, birds burst into flame and fall to the ground, and God's cheeks blush red with rage.


Despite some stages being far too short in length -- many are barely worth exploring and take no time at all to completely darken, thus somewhat nullifying the accomplishment for completely darkening a stage -- each level's makeover is worth witnessing. Satan's area oddly contains nuns wandering across scattered hilltops, and Beelzebub himself boasts a disappointingly tame appearance. With the help of Grimm's aura, the nuns morph into harpies and Satan takes on the more satisfying form of a hunch-backed demon, pitchfork firmly in hand and eyes spurting flames.